Chapter 88

Jamilla and I searched the main ranch¹ house, then we checked a large, unattached bunkhouse. We didn’t find anyone there, not a straggler, not William or Michael Alexander. And not the mysterious Sire. Jamilla was still shivering some, but she refused to turn back.  ‘You’re sure the brothers aren’t out front with the others?’ she asked. ‘Two blonds? Ponytails?’
‘If they are, Kyle has them by now. I don’t think so. Let’s check the smaller shack². You know what’s in there?’
She shook her head. ‘I didn’t get the grand tour when I arrived.
Just straight to the dungeon³. Then they left me hanging, so to speak.’ I threw open the door of the shack and saw heaters and a water pump. The room smelled strongly of urine. A mouse scooted into a hole in the wall. I winced⁴ and shook my head at what I saw next.  Three bodies lay sprawled⁵ and spread-eagled against the far wall.  They were teenagers. Two were males, both naked except for a few face and chest rings.
I bent⁶ over them and took a closer look. ‘Seem like street kids to me. The blood’s been drained from the bodies.’ There were bite marks - not just on the necks, but on the faces and limbs. The skin of both males was as pale as alabaster⁷.
The third body was female - a teenager of about fifteen. She matched the description of the girl who had gone missing in New Orleans. I felt deeply saddened to have found her here.
I looked away from the clouded eyes that stared up at me. There
was nothing we could do for them now. I noticed a reddish-brown hatch cover among the dusty machines that provided water, heat, and probably air-conditioning to the ranch.
I moved across the room, bent down low to get a better look. The cover was loose, so I was able to pull it off.  Darkness. Silence. What else was down there? Who else?  I looked at Jamilla, then I shined a flashlight into the hole. It was wide enough for someone to get down inside. I saw metal stairs. A tunnel.
Then I saw footprints in the dirt below. Several pairs.
‘Go, tell Kyle/1 turned to her.’Get some help.’ Jamilla was already heading out the door. She started to run. I stared down into the abyss and wondered if anybody was looking back at me.

1 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

2 shack   

adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚

参考例句：

• He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前，他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。
• The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。

3 dungeon   

n.地牢，土牢

参考例句：

• They were driven into a dark dungeon.他们被人驱赶进入一个黑暗的地牢。
• He was just set free from a dungeon a few days ago.几天前，他刚从土牢里被放出来。

4 winced   

赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He winced as the dog nipped his ankle. 狗咬了他的脚腕子，疼得他龇牙咧嘴。
• He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg. 他左腿一阵剧痛疼得他直龇牙咧嘴。

5 sprawled   

v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。
• He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。

6 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

7 alabaster   

adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石

参考例句：

• The floor was marble tile,and the columns alabaster.地板是由大理石铺成的，柱子则是雪花石膏打造而成。
• Her skin was like alabaster.她的皮肤光洁雪白。